ANAHEIM, Calif. — Hello from sunny Southern California, where tonight Davey Johnson manages his first big-league game in 11 years, having taken over the reins of the Nationals for the remainder of this season (and possibly beyond).

Johnson's first lineup looks a lot like those John McLaren wrote out over the weekend in Chicago. Roger Bernadina leads off. Jayson Werth bats second. Laynce Nix is batting cleanup, though he's in left field. Matt Stairs does make his first appearance in a long time, serving as DH.

One thing to remember: Drew Storen is not with the club tonight. He was in Indiana for his grandmother's funeral. He's expected to rejoin the team in time for tomorrow's game. We'll have to see who would get the call in the ninth inning if the Nats hold a tight lead.

Plenty of updates to come, including highlights from Davey's first press conference. Also, catch me live from the ballpark on CSN at 6 p.m…

Who thinks the Nats might actually do better if the pitcher batted 8th tonight instead of Stairs?? Just kidding, of course. Let's hope LannEn has another good outing and that the bullpen can get a little more rest (preferably without the need for us to worry about who's going to close the game).

Matt Stairs does make his first appearance in a long time, serving as DH________________________________UGH, how I wish this guy would make his ultimatum and resign like Riggleman and just go take an elevator out of the park today.It would be funny though if he did something today that meant something towards a WIN.

Stairs has a good record against this guy. I actually like him batting 8th here too. Think of Riggs batting the pitcher 8th, Stairs is like our pitcher, except he just doesn't bat as well. That allows Desmond to hit before our high OBP guys Bernadina and (hopefully a no longer slumping) Werth. I think Davey will give Stairs three days at DH to prove he deserves a spot on this team and will convince Rizzo to release him if he doesn't.Hey, a guy can dream…

I've wondered why they don't pinch-hit or DH Marquis more, since he loves to hit. I thought maybe it was because they don't want a pitcher injured on the basepaths, but they are forever letting Marquis pinch-run, and he gets his uniform dirty sliding, so, any thoughts on why they don't use him more?

Grandstander, thanks. There you go NO RBIS for Stairs. Looks like Jason Marquis would be more productive and there is a guy who only bats 1 game every 5 days.I am sick of people whining about how MLB veterans need lots of at-bats to be effective. True for some but a guy who is put on the roster to be ONLY a PINCH HITTER should be very well prepared for his high paying job. Such a waste of a roster spot.

Here's hoping that in the death rattle of his amazing career Matt Stairs can come up with a couple big hits tonight. A red hot LannEn against a bunch of guys that have never seen his stuff before? Yes please.

Using starting pitchers as a DH is playing with fire. One bad slide and they may be on the DL. Go with Stairs since that is his job. If he doesn't do his job Davey will take care of it. I like the lineup. Should have some pop is Werth and Zim can start to hit. Big if!!

wRC+ is probably one of my favorite statistics for measuring offensive value. It stands for Weighted Runs Created, adjusted for park/league averages. It's easier than it sounds. Without getting too bogged down in the different stats, it's a way of taking all of a guys offensive production stats (doubles, walks, ks, steals, everything).What you need to know about this stat is that 100 is league average. Each point above or below 100 can be thought of as a percentage point. So Michael Morse at 143, is 43% better than league average. And this is all adjusted for the park they play in and so forth. Very fair stat and highly useful. Here's today's lineup with their wRC+:Bernadina – 115Werth – 107Zimmerman – 86Nix – 124Morse – 143Espinosa – 120Ramos – 94Stairs – 14Desmond – 67And because I know you're all wondering, Marquis' wRC+ is 28. Jerry Hairston, who should be playing LF with Nix DHing (or vice versa) is 91.Here's the kicker.Only 6 players have had a lower wRC+ all season (min 50 PA). All 6 were DFA'd and are no longer on the roster.

Everyone beat me to it. I'd rather Marquis DH than Stairs. And I don't mean that pejoratively. I think at this point in their careers, Marquis is the better hitter. And can lay a bunt down.Also, once Stairs DOES get on base (by a walk, I'm sure, if at all), he doesn't exactly do a whole lot of moving around out there.

Thank you. Nope, not related to Boz, just a firm believer that some statistics are better than others. Watching the press conference, who was that jerk who stepped on Mark's question to ask about Mike Scioscia? Get those LA beat guys outta there!

Stairs? What a hoot! And if he gets a game winning hit? (drum roll here). We'll be riding a stairway to heaven.Sorry. So, with the Dodgers in such bad straights, is there still any room left for a stadium in Brooklyn? Whadda coup that would be for NY, eh?

Less-than-stellar fielding leads to a triple and double and Wang gives up run number 2 in the 3rd.Don't know why Harper isn't playing; hope it means he is on the way to Potomac. I have tickets for the Potomac visit to Frederick next week.

Nothing Stairs can do now can make up for his appalling showing so far this year. It's time for him to go. (Actually, it was time over a month ago.) I sure hope that Davey Johnson recognizes that. But he has to, right? He's a genius, one of the all time best managers, etc. etc.

I know, natsfan1a (and others who commented on Mark being there). Iy makes a huge difference to have mark with the team, instead of at home. Especially now. And especially after the All Star break, when we start seeing teams make moves. Basically, he should be covering every game no matter where it is. There isn't anyone covering this team better.Go LannEn. GYFNG!

Slidell…. Wangs been throwing without pain for several months now. And by "nice and easy" I think they mean 85 – 87 MPH which is nowhere near what he used to throw.It sounded like his sinker was working though. I won't give up yet but I don't have alot of hope.On the other hand, I loved Davey's presser.

Couple of thoughts…some random…some…not so much:NatsLady…I'll take the posting process here over NJ's clunkiness and "fecal matter" any day..Re: Stairs…It's my hope that he will, in this series, pull a Crash DaviS…hit that one last dinger and hang'em up.I have lost any faith at all in CW Wang making it to Nats Park (and there wasn't much to begin with). I think the closest we'll get to a Wang sighting will be if someone goes into 1970's Ray Stevens mode (bonus points to whoever gets the reference without doing a google search).I watched some of the baseball games on ESPN and I really don't like the strike zone box that they keep up during the at bat. I much prefer the pitch trak that shows some of the more debatable calls.

Not sure why the MASN guys were complaining about Davey's lack of energy. What I saw was that the lights were on and the wheels are turning. Quick answers, no hesitation. And reminded me of the way he carried himself in NY. What were they expecting? Cheerleading? Fireworks? "Passion"? Me, I'll take what he gave us.

Mark has really been bringing it this weekend…Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com reports that MLB has suspended John McLaren one game and fined him for his altercation with the umps Friday night in Chicago. Uh, how exactly do you enforce that punishment? Sorry, Mac: You can't watch tonight's game on TV from your living room sofa, only from a skybox above your house? LMAO

Somebody needs to go upside my haid!! All of a sudden I'm having thoughts of championships… What are we, like, 14 of the last 16, or something? Talent stacked up down on the farm, like jets waiting to land at Reagan…. Jeezus, Prince Oppo Boppo…. Rendon…. Peacock, Milone, Robbie Ray…. GET THAT KOOL AID AWAY FROM ME!!!!! MY MOM TOLD ME ABOUT YOU PEOPLE…… YOU'LL JUST PULL THAT FOOTBALL AWAY AT THE LAST MINNIT… AND I'LL FALL ON THE BACK OF MY HAID!!!!

My first post on this site, just have to finally say something after being a loyal reader since its inception. Thank you Mark, you're the best… but wanna say hope that Stairsy does OK tonite… I don't mind watching the old guy get few last chances.

I, for one, would like to give props where they are due. Mr. Zuckerman, in a game thread I can't recall at the moment, correctly predicted that Pat Corrales would be Davey's bench coach. Well done, sir. I hope you put money on that with some of the other writers.Kilgore transcribed it for me so I didn't have to, but one thing Davey said really brought a smile to my face.I definitely think this club has been an underachiever offensively. I don’t like to give up outs. I’ll bunt when I have to. I’ll hit and run when I feel like it. I think this club hasn’t quite come into it’s own. It doesn’t really know how good an offensive club it can be. It definitely has a chance to be a good one.”YES!!! Finally someone who gets it!All this Riggleman "smart ball" nonsense has been giving me fits. If you play for one run, you may or may not get it, but you won't get any more than one. There's so much power on this team, it's insane how we've been giving away outs. You only get 27. Look up and down that lineup, every single guy has homerun power. We've got the pitching, we've got the defense, time for some 3-run homers. Espinosa knows what I'm talking about, amirite?

Unkyd: calm down, dude. This is a .500 team, at best. And baseball is a game of averages and the averages have played out – the Nats are a tad over .500.But that's it for now. Don't get so excited about a 42-40 team. School's been out just a week and already your crazy.

Still taking a wait and see attitude. Kind of finding the drooling over Davey Johnson to be a bit premature. First Matt Stairs in the line-up , now Pat Corrales as bench coach – blech.Not impressed. Motivate Jayson Werth and then we'll see.

Sounds like we're facing another cy young-like pitcher tonight. Has a manager ever been no-hit in his debut? GYFNG! One inning for me and since we never hit until at least the seventh, I will be asleep. My goal for the Nats – score a run before the sixth inning in the near future.

People, we are two games OVER .500 and all you want to do is crush Matt Stairs, give me a break. Lets see if we can just play 500 ball until the All-Star break and then go from there. If we end up at 2 games over 500 then we finish 83 – 79 and how good would that be!!! Finish this road trip 3-3, go 5-4 at home and now we are 3 games over .500!! Just take things one day at a time and it will all workout. Has everyone forgotten what we have gone through the last few years. We are playing great ball, we have improved our defense, and pitching, we have signed a big time player who other teams coveted, our minor league teams are all improved and yet most of what I read is negative or coulda shoulda. GYFNG!!!

Grandstander -Thanks for the wRC+ stat earlier. That and wOBA are my offensive go-to's; you must frequent Fangraphs as well. I too enjoyed the no-giving-up-outs comment by DJ.FWIW, Livo has an FIP around 3.6. Sure, it is a depressed run environment, but that is l-e-g-i-t.

Natsjack – if Wang can't get it over 90mph is he done? read a little on Nat's Prospects and although he gave up 2 runs in 3 innings he did get 6 groundouts and was in no pain. If nothing else, he does know how to win and this probably is it for him. Not sure who he would replace but I am guessing that when Zimmnn reaches his inning count he might be someone (along with Detwiller) that we look at.Lannan just threw an 8 pitch inning as we go into the 4thGYFNG

Yeah, I check out Fangraphs. They definitely won me over with wOBA, wRC+ and wRAA. I'm a believer.Santana has been throwing lots of first pitch strikes, nice to see the Nats jumping on those instead of letting them float by like a couple players on this team.

Anonymous said… Morse and Espinosa: All Star Game 2011. Expect it. Or at least, that's how it should be. Name a 2nd baseman in the NL who's better than Danny, and he's just a rookie! June 27, 2011 10:47 PM __________________________________Sorry to disagree but Morse is either the 3rd or 4th best 1st baseman depending on how you want to pick 'em1. Fielder2. Votto3. Sanchez4. MorseDanny Espinosa is the 3rd best 2nd baseman although maybe you can argue he is better than Phillips. That BA and OBP loom large usually.1. Weeks2. Phillips3. EspinosaStill, very impressive to see 2 Nats infielders amongst the league's best and not named Ryan Zimmerman!

11:21 p.m. — For some reason, the Racing Presidents are here. I have no idea why. And the best gag they could come up with was Teddy riding around the warning track on a bicycle. So this act is officially lame on two coasts of the country now. _____________________________________Now that is funny but I am sure the 5 year olds liked it even though they have no clue what they are watching.

I'll say this, Lannan clearly doesn't have his stuff tonight, but he's somehow avoided giving it all away. The leadoff man has reached every inning but one and he's allowed 7 hits and 2 walks in 5 innings but only gave up 2 runs. You get the feeling if he can just push us through the 6th we can get this.

No, SEction 222! I was thinking, "great minds think alike!" I think they are both trying to bring some Phillies juice into our clubhouse. They are looking back at when things were" good"…instead of being Nationals, and being in THIS MOMENT. When Stairs moves on, Werth can become a Real Nat, instead of living in the in between. He won't have anyone tugging him into the past.Does it sound to you all like those Angels fans are screaming when nothing is going on? The evil small part of me hopes they are doing the wave.

Was it my imagination, or was Davey Johnson walking up to get Lannan when Jewitt called him back. After that there was 3 straight hits to give the Angels the lead.Now, Davey isn't going to say that was the case, but I swear the camera cut to him walking up the steps when Jewitt called him back and I thought I saw him point to home plate and say but we've got righties coming up.Really want to see that again.

Grandstander: I had the same thought. Davey was going to make the move and then he waited one batter too long.BTW, as we search in vain for a leadoff hitter, that smoke on the horizon is coming from Syracuse, where Steve Lombardozzi is on fire.Since his promotion to Syracuse he is 15 for 34. He is batting .441 with a .457 on base percentage.

@JaneB – From your lips to DJ's ears. @Grandstander — I rewound and had a look. That was McCatty pulling DJ back, if that what he did. I'm not a lip reader, but didn't see any indication they were talking about RH batters.

Davey's made 2 mistakes so far tonight.Not having a hot Hairston in left field(he throws that runner out easy) with Nix dhing and Leaving Lannan in to pitch to those 2 rh batters at the bottom of the lineup.

HotRod – I have to agree with you on both but probably didn't want to go to the bullpen so early with Storen out. It didn't work out. It happens.On Nix, I'm just not feeling it. He has cooled down from that hot streak and his fielding and arm just aren't good. He takes a looping path to balls sometimes instead of aggressively going straight to them allowing them to fall in front of him.Probably was thinking Nix over Hairston for the RH/LH matchup.

Stranded_in_Philly said… Everyone beat me to it. I'd rather Marquis DH than Stairs. And I don't mean that pejoratively. I think at this point in their careers, Marquis is the better hitter. And can lay a bunt down.Also, once Stairs DOES get on base (by a walk, I'm sure, if at all), he doesn't exactly do a whole lot of moving around out there. June 27, 2011 6:55 PM ___________________________________Well, you called it early.

Is H-Rodriguez fun to watch or what?He can miss the plate by as much as 6 feet at times, but even the other day when he got hit, they were bloops and seeing-eye singles.Come on Nats!Win one for the night owls!

Here's job one for Davey: Find some way, somehow, to get baserunners at the top of the lineup for the beastly bats that stalk the infield.Bringing up Lombo is unlikely because it would disrupt the greatly improved defense in the middle of the diamond. Gotta believe Rizzo will pull the trigger on a deal for a center fielder.

I think the TV guys were right about maybe sitting Werth. He knows he's not doing the job. But they were in it to the last. Tomorrow is another day. Well, on the west coast, at least. Had fun reading you all tonight!

First order of business for Johnson will be to get Werth to an eye doctor. He swings at ones not in the zone, and lets ones in the zone go by. If the doctor says nothing wrong his vision, it is time to bench him as his mind is not in the game. I have been giving him the benefit of the doubt up to now, but no longer, this has to stop.You would think one would feel guilty for taking money like he has and produced so little in return. Humor nature is that way.